Ladder



A. J. REDMAN LADDER Filed Feb. 4 1924 .4 Jfleim/z Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST J. REDMAN, OF SOUTH BEND, WASHINGTON.

LADDER.

Application filed February 4, 1924. Serial No. 690,528.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUeUsr J. REDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of Pacific and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to ladder construction, and aims to provide novel means for equalizing a ladder when the same is supported on irregular surfaces, toinsure the steps of the ladder being supported in horizontal planes.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be automatically adjusted, novel means being provided for locking the equalizing mechanism .in its positions of adjustment to prevent movement of the ladder while in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily and easily attached to the usual ladder construction now in use, eliminating the necessity of making alterations in the ladder construction for accomplishing the, application of the device.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view disclosing the equalizing device as applied to a ladder.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates the side members forming a part of the usual ladder construction and the reference character 6 designates the steps which are connected to the members 5, in the usual way.

Secured to the members 5 at points adjacent to the lower ends thereof, are spaced guide members 7, through which the auxiliary leg members 8 pass and which secure the leg members to the ladder, in a manner to permit of adjustment of the auxiliary leg members 8, longitudinally of the members 5.

Secured to the members 5 is a supporting bar 9 formed with right angled end portions 10 that are provided with suitable openings to receive the securing bolts 11 that pass through the members 5 to secure the bar 9 against movement.

Extending upwardly from the bar 9 is an arm 12 that has its extremity formed into a handle 13 which handle also supports the pivoted latch member 1a that is provided with a finger 15 designed to move between the teeth 16 of the rack 17. This rack includes a bar 18 rovided with an opening to receive the b0 t 19 that acts as a pivot for the. rack to allow the rack to swing to the right or left in making the adjustment of the auxiliary leg members.

Connected to the auxiliary leg members 8 are connecting rods 20 that have pivotal connection with the rack member 18, at 21 whereby movement of the auxiliary leg members 8 is transmitted to the rack member 18 to cause it to swing, when the ladder is being positioned on an uneven surface such as illustrated by Figure 1 of the drawing.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that when the ladder has been positioned and the auxiliary leg members 8 have assumed their proper positions to cause the steps 6 of the ladder to be held in true horizontal planes, the latch member 14 will be operated to engage the finger between certain teeth of the rack member to lock the rack member, rods and auxiliary leg members against movement.

I claim 1- In a device of the character described, a ladder including leg members, upper and lower guides secured tothe leg members, auxiliary leg members adapted to move in the guides, a supporting bar mounted on the first mentioned leg members and having an upwardly extended arm, a latch member pivotally mounted on the upwardly extended arm, a pivoted rack member mounted on the supporting bar, connecting rods for connecting the auxiliary leg members to the In testimony that I claim the foregoing rack member, said rack member adapted to as my own I have hereto affixed my signabe engaged by the latch member to hold the ture in the presence of two Witnesses. 10 rack member in various positions of adjust- AUGUST J. REDMAN.

5 ment, and said auxiliary leg members adaptlVitnesses: v

ed to move the rack member and vary the W. E. MoCoRMAon length of the leg members of the ladder. T. E. PEARCE 

